They had just lost to a historically horrific Cleveland team that, less than a week before, had ended a losing streak of 26 games.

"I'm not that worried," Lamar Odom shrugged, sounding like a man who had lost nothing more significant than a sock. "I think it's things we can fix."

Odom's detached approach — a rather cavalier response after the Cavaliers' response — is one reason some people dread the Lakers.

This, however, is a greater reason:

They instantly, in classic flip-switching style, decided to start paying attention to details again — like playing defense, for example — and Andrew Bynum worked his way back and Ron Artest awakened and Kobe Bryant narrowed his eyes and ...

Ta Da!!! The Lakers were fixed! Odom was right! And everyone remembered how this team won two titles in the first place.

Since that night in dreary Ohio, they are 14-1, their only loss coming when they shot just 40 percent at Miami, one of the best teams in the league, and still had a chance to win in the final two minutes.

They also have moved back into second place in the Western Conference, shaving 31/2 games off San Antonio's overall lead.

"I go to sleep well at night," Jackson confirmed, not a surprising admission from a man who, with one ATM stop, could stuff his mattress and pillows with $100 bills.

"I like what the team's doing. I think we're playing well."

Their latest victory, on Friday, was more classic Lakers as they toyed with the Clippers, encouraging them, making them believe there was a chance, and then, in the end, reminding them that they're the Clippers and the Lakers are the Lakers.

When Artest wasn't forcing Eric Gordon to play in high-top cinder blocks, he was performing as the delightfully gallivanting goof. Jumping and flexing both biceps. Blowing kisses to the crowd. Nearly causing his teammates on the bench to wet themselves in laughter.

Meanwhile, Bynum was blocking a DeAndre Jordan shot out to the 3-points line. Jordan is athletic like Matt Barnes is tattooed. Completely.

Minutes later, Bynum was blocking a driving layup by Al-Farouq Aminu. Aminu is spry like Derek Fisher is bald. Totally.

And again, minutes later, Bynum was blocking an inside attempt by Craig Smith.

So suddenly, there's a new concern. Are the Lakers peaking too soon? Only this team could go from in trouble to in flight — from so bad to perhaps too good — in the span of 15 games.

The NBA Finals won't begin for another 10 weeks.

Can they possibly maintain this pace until summer is knocking on our doors?

The answer is yes. And no. And maybe. And who the heck really knows?

All of which makes the Lakers what the Lakers are — intriguing, maddening, thrilling, alluring, confounding and the most interesting sports franchise around.

And, already, Jackson has been facing questions about the NBA Finals, experienced reporters, taking note of the Lakers' sudden launch, knowing where this season is heading.

Naturally, the rest of the Western Conference has begun playing along, too. New Orleans lost David West — Jackson: "It puts a big hole in their lineup." — Memphis is down one Rudy Gay and Tim Duncan's ankle reportedly is the color of an eggplant.

Could the Lakers be on a third collision course with Boston? With a Heat team they lost to twice? With, dare we suggest it, Chicago, where Jackson harvested the first half of his legend?

This is a guy who likes to write books. Lakers-Bulls could provide Jackson with enough material for a novel, an autobiography and a how-to entitled "An Idiot's Guide to Ending Your Hall of Fame Coaching Career."

And just imagine the Twitter potential for Artest, who has admitted he drank during games when he was a Bull. Artest could be re-tweeting while the Lakers are three-peating.

"I like that drama," Jackson said, after offering an obligatory comment about not looking beyond the first round of the playoffs. "It's real dramatic. Is life really that dramatic?"

Normal life? No. But Laker life? Absolutely. Even the smallest things in Laker life can blow up to comically dramatic levels, explaining how this franchise once gave us the Sun Yue Era.

Those days, however, are long gone. Now, more glory days are waiting.

The Lakers will arrive there, we're more sure of it today than ever, in their own commendable, condemnable way.

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